Skämt, makt och myter - humor i genusperspektiv

Abstract

This article explores humour from a gender perspective, starting from the notion that the relationship between gender and humour can be analyzed at all levels of the gender system. Three issues are discussed: how women and men make jokes, how we joke about women and men and the myth that women lack a sense of humour. Studies of gendered jokes have shown that jokes can have the effect of creating boundaries between groups by reinforcing populär assumptions and beliefs, e.g. that women always chat and gossip. Humour, however, can also be used to subvert sexism. But the fact that women are often the butt of gendered jokes can explain why women do not always appreciate such jokes. This in turn can reinforce the stereotype of the humourless female. Joking as well as the jokes themselves reflect both power relations and cultural codes. Men more often have a position of power and power and status influence who can initiate a joke in a certain situation and also affect the reception of the joke. Professional women can find it hard to get heard in public, which is probably why it is more important for women to appear competent and worth listening to than to be considered funny. Furthermore, cultural codes have a strong impact on gender identities. When it comes to being attractive to the opposite sex, humour seems to be an important trait in men whereas beauty still is considered more desirable in women.